Italo Ferreira Leads Day 3 of Surf Open Acapulco

PLAYA REVOLCADERO, Acapulco/Mexico (Thursday, July 4, 2013) - Day three of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Surf Open Acapulco presented by Vans saw top seeds take to the water in challenging two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Playa Revolcadero while early-round standouts battled the event's top seeds.

Italo Ferreira (BRA), 18, who earned the day's high-tallies yesterday, returned to form in Round 3, punting the top scores of Surf Open Acapulco competition compliments of his impressive aerial game. Ferreira continued to utilize the lefthand ramps of Playa Revolcadero, this time taking a 9.47 and 9.07 for two fully-committed frontside airs.

"It was a competitive heat because there were a lot of good guys in that round," Ferreira said. "The waves are kind of small and short and at the beginning I was kind of nervous. I didn't really get good waves to start but began to feel a little more confident and made those big airs."

While Ferreira was busy dominating the lefts in Heat 11 of Round 3, Australian Brent Dorrington would put on an impressive display of his own in the same heat, dismantling the rights with seamless forehand combinations. The natural-footer would go on to advance behind the Brazilian in second with a solid 16.00 heat total.

"I was watching it for ages before my heat and saw a few sneaky rights toward the buoy to the left," Dorrington said. "I just posted up there and luckily got two because after that there was nothing. Italo was by himself on that left and just went loony."

Dorrington is one of many international talents currently enjoying the newly developing Latin leg of the ASP qualifying Series, and feels the wave-rich region provides the perfect platform for new events in budding surf nations.

"Mexico is the coolest place I've ever been," Dorrington said. "I reckon there should be a full leg of events here. There are real good waves down here and it's so easy to get around, it's all really close."

Alex Smith (Kauai, HI), 22, put on a versatile display of aerials on both the lefts and rights of Playa Revolcadero, securing one of the day's high heat totals for his efforts. Despite a flurry of exchanges from his fellow competitors at the end of his Round 3 match, Smith would take his heat victory by launching a critical backside air-reverse, solidifying an 8.17 to punctuate his heat win.

"I haven't really got the ball rolling in a contest in awhile, so it felt good to get some scores on the board and I'm feeling pretty confident," Smith said. "I was surprised when I woke up this morning because I thought there was supposed to be swell and it was the smallest day of the contest. I was a little worried at first, but once I got out there I realized the waves were really fun."

Tanner Hendrickson (Maui, HI), 21, defending Surf Open Acapulco Champion, put in a hard-fought come from behind effort in the back half of his heat to advance to Round 4. In need of a solid score, Hendrickson strung together his entire forehand repertoire, unloading powerful carves and fully committed airs, advancing in second behind fellow Hawaiian Alex Smith.

"I kept fighting and I knew I could do it," Hendrickson said. "I just tried my hardest and I'm stoked on the result and that I made it through. Winning last year gives me the confidence that I know I can win. Stoked to make it through to the next round."

Deivid Silva (BRA), 18, contributed to a day of success for South America, attacking both the rights and lefts with power combinations to take a commanding Round 3 win.

"The conditions are hard out there because the waves are small and disorganized, but I had a good heat and I'll build on it for the next round," Silva said. "I hope tomorrow gets bigger."

Silva's Round 3 victory marks his third consecutive heat win after beginning his campaign in Round 1 and the goofy-footer feels his experience gained from early-round heats is working to his advantage.

"Surfing from Round 1 definitely helps and I'm familiar with the conditions out there," Silva said. "Even though the conditions are smaller, it's still glassy and I've had a variety of conditions to get used to after three rounds."

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7am local time for a possible 7:30am start to Round 4. Watch the Surf Open Acapulco LIVE via www.surfopenacapulco.com